Remove the Sugars From Your Child's Diet

By Donna Stark

What's the normal routine when your children come home from school? Do they head straight for the cookies in the pantry or do they grab those chocolate-covered ice cream bars from the freezer? Getting your children to ignore those sweet temptations may feel like an overwhelming battle, but it doesn't have to be. With some simple changes to what is offered in the home and some gentle redirection on your part, their intake of sugar can be dramatically reduced! Keep reading to learn more.

Read Nutrition Labels

Surprise, surprise! Some of those "healthy" foods you are buying may not be so healthy after all. The peanut butter, trail mix, granola bars, and cereal you purchase could very well be sweetened with added sugars, and added sugars are exactly what you should be avoiding! Take the time to learn the different names for sugars and the ingredients that typically "hide" them.

Limit Sugary Drinks

The next step in reducing your children's sugar intake is to limit the number of sugary drinks they consume. And the best way to do that is to stop buying them. That's right. Just stop. There is no nutritional value in those bottles of soda, sweetened coffees, or artificially dyed fruit punches they drink. Instead, make some flavored water spritzers or unsweetened green tea and encourage them to drink that.

Stick With Freshness

If you want to satisfy your children's penchant for sweets, why don't you fill your house up with whole, natural fruits? Apples, grapes, strawberries, plums  the options are endless and so very satisfying. Keep in mind though, that your children will be more likely to grab that as a snack if it is already washed and prepared, so take a few minutes after coming home from the store to make sure that is done!

Serve a Healthy Breakfast

Sure, the mornings are busy and it's so much easier to tell your children to grab a bowl of cereal than to cook a homemade breakfast, but cereal is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to sugar overload. Instead, try to wake up a little bit earlier and fuel their bodies properly. Cook some eggs, make some avocado toast, pass around the Greek yogurt, or blend a couple of smoothies. Any of these options are better than that bowl of sugar they are eating.  

Less Sugar, Better Health

Don't let your child's sugar habits impact their overall health and wellness. Take control of their daily intake and establish healthier eating habits by following the simple suggestions above. It may be a challenge at first, but in time, you will be able to improve the health of everyone in the family!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Acworth, Ga.